LFC U/23's Vs Shrewsbury Town | FA Cup live fans match thread

Next up Shrewsbury Town will make the trip of a life time to play LFC under the Anfield lights. This extra replay fixture is due to our senior fringe players with a sprinkling of academy lads failing to take victory in the prestige FA Cup 4th round tie at the first time of asking and because of the following, now it's left to just our U23's alone to make the job a winning one.

At the beginning of the season the FA requested that all clubs observe the new winter break and not organise any games during this time, allowing players to recover from the busy Christmas and New Year period. Klopp and LFC officials are taking this literally and refusing to use any senior players in this match. Not even Klopp himself is willing to attend and try and guide our young lads to victory so we can continue in this once beloved cup that was held above all other competitions.

Alas with every extra dollar/pound that goes to clubs winning the European tournaments, the FA Cup's pedigree is slowly dwindling. The decision to play our U/23's only, has split both pundits and fans alike, kind of like Marmite you either love it or hate it (the correct response is hate by the way). (Edit from Case: of course it is, Bovril is much better)

Time has come for the 4th round replay of the prestige FA Cup and Klopp and LFC are treating this with nothing other than respect that this competition has earned throughout the years in the U.K.. For all those fans that have spent their money hoping to see any of our senior players, whether it be starting or even on the bench, or even be witness to our illustrious charismatic leader be prepared to be disappointed. Due to an email at the beginning of the season from the FA asking clubs to honour the "winter break" and allow first team players to have a 12-14 day break, the officials at LFC will be fielding our Under/23's for this match and even Klopp himself won't attend the game to help these young lads through what will be an extremely tough and physical game. This decision has split both pundits and fans, kind of like marmite you either love it or hate it (the right answer should always be hate by the way).

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This game is going to be tough for the young lads but is winnable with a lot of heart and some good tactics from our U23's coach Neil Critchley who will be taking charge. If the home fans get behind them like they did against Villa there's no reason why these talented young men can't get done what some of the senior lads failed to.

On that last note it's perhaps a little disappointing not to see any fringe senior players that could use some game time but they'll be put through tailored routines while away and it does provide a great opportunity to the academy players to show what they can offer and to push for a call up to the first team squad. No doubt the likes of Elliott and Jones will be leading the way and it's a shame Larouci has been struck down with another injury, as he on the left, and Neco on the right looked delightful in the first game. This does however allow another of LFC's starlets to showcase his talent, young Adam Lewis whose name has been whispered around the hallways of Melwood as a local lad looking to make every Liverpudlian dream come true, and he may just have the skill to back it up.